Horoscopes

Sunday 22 May 2005 06.45 EDT
First published on Sunday 22 May 2005 06.45 EDT

Gemini 21 May-20 Jun It's your month, Gem, but since you are confronted by a full Moon over the next two days, expect it to start more harum-scarum than easy-peasy. Don't bother ducking out of necessary, air-clearing clashes - the force (aka The Sun) is with you - though with Venus in your sign, you can as easily play peace-maker and social secretary. Or, if it's your thing, alluring charmer.

Cancer 21 Jun-22 Jul It's a bit much to start talking about 'down time' - with Saturn on your case, chance would be a fine thing - but assorted planets moving into the more secretive and secluded sectors of your horoscope make your hidden agenda as important as your declared plans. Hush-hush romances are one thing, but don't get suckered into any dodgy financial scams.

Leo 23 Jul-22 Aug Diplomacy is not a Leo strong point (the general idea being you rule, others admire and flatter), but sometimes teamwork and carefullycultivated alliances are required to deliver your greater glory. Two days with a full Moon in a fellow fire sign enhances your profile but tests your tactfulness with colleagues, friends and even possible lovers. Go for poise and persuasion, not poison.

Virgo 23 Aug-22 Sep It's all very well dumping you-know-who, or carrying-on with oddballs whom you wouldn't have given a second look a year or two back - the churn in your personal life isn't going away just yet. Still, with the Sun at your 'scope's apex and a full Moon at its nadir, you're confronted with less dramatic needs: a proper job and decent place to live. Those sorted, the emotional stuff falls into place.

Libra 23 Sep-23 Oct Your more intractable problems (particularly but not exclusively work) will not be solved by flying by the seat of your designer pants - you'll need determination and dirty hands. Messy emotional situations, on the other hand, respond to that flighty, charming, ambiguous touch you're so good at. Others may think you fickle and uncommitted. The mundane truth is you just hate making up your mind.

Scorpio 24 Oct-21 Nov Well, what are you waiting for? Whether you are screwing up the courage to invite out your dream date, record your hit album or throw over the 9-to-5 to go on a cross-Saharan trek, planetary omens don't get much better than those prevailing for the next few weeks. Or, come to that, this very day, when a Scorpio Moon gives you edge and profile. Exploit accordingly.

Sagittarius 22 Nov-21 Dec Full Moons invariably jangle nerves and raise hackles, and since tomorrow's is sailing through your patch of sky, expect your full share of jangling. Even if you're as sorted as a girl guide's back pack, other people will project their issues on to you. Conciliation is no bad thing (especially with the other half/ex), but you can't be expected to pussyfoot around indefinitely. Sometimes you have to carry on regardless.

Capricorn 22 Dec-19 Jan Even if you are not much of an artist and prefer engineering to intellectualism, there's a creative, mentally agile streak at work in your horoscope that should allow you to set your affairs in order and win over doubters. As you know, the weight of responsibility is rarely shifted overnight (not until July, frankly), but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy some light entertainment. Go ahead, dance.

Aquarius 20 Jan-19 Feb Leo being your opposite and complementary sign leads some astrologers to propose that inside every Aquarian is a Leo waiting to escape. An odd notion, perhaps, but with the Sun now in your fifth house of self-celebration and creativity, you could do worse than refresh your party animal within. Next weekend's splendid stars are perfect for louder colours, more noise, brighter art. Romance? Absolutely.

Pisces 20 Feb-20 Mar Sometimes you have to perform for the public like a hardened thespian, even though your heart's not in it. At other times there's no point pretending and you have to turn bolshy and self-centred. Given the somewhat irascible planetary configuration this week, you face some tough choices about when to bite your tongue, and when to bite other people's head off. Peace and understanding? You'll be lucky.

Aries 21 Mar-19 Apr If your style has been a little cramped of late, the Sun's change of sign yesterday should put some wind under your wings. While the most decisive part of your year doesn't arrive until your ruling planet breaks out of hermit mode next month, the incoming weeks involve more talk, travel, meet and greet - handy distractions from your main agenda, which remains home and work. Period.

Taurus 20 Apr-20 May One of Taurus's happy knacks is being able to talk your way out of trouble and talk other people into your schemes. It's a trick certainly available now, when Mercury and Venus are in so-called mutual reception, so get gabbing and persuading. Two cautionary notes: don't be surprised if career decisions and promises from three years ago are back to haunt you, and don't promise what you can't deliver.

If it's your birthday this week

Gemini, the sign of perpetual motion, is not phased by change - just as well given that the disruptive planet Uranus has repeatedly tweaked your tail this last year. Your career script is the one most likely to be in tatters. Graft, rather than liberation, is the theme of your working life after August; energy invested pays off handsomely. Birthday June 23? A full Moon completes one life chapter. Happy returns.